The year 1933 saw the continuation of the
Great Depression. A number of the fathers of some of these children, many
of whom worked for the Coal Company, were unemployed or worked only a few
days a week. Various private and public relief agencies in the county tried
to lessen the suffering and deprivation by donating food and clothing to needy
families. The Rochester and Pittsburgh Coal Company requested that currently
employed workers contribute to a fund for unemployed miners. The Coal Company
matched the donations. Free coal for heating homes worth $5,120 and the remittance
of rents valued at $19,376 was given to those miners whose wages fell below
a certain level. To further ease the burden, the company store sold staples
to certain impoverished families at cost.